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Parsons Brinckerhoff wins Great Western System Integrator contract

Global engineering consultancy Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB) has been awarded the Industry System Integrator contract for the £7.5bn Great Western Route Modernisation Programme.

Work on the new contract will begin immediately, and the Industry System Integrator team will work with infrastructure, operational and rolling stock technical specialists to assure the successful delivery of the programme, PB said.

This modernisation programme, due to complete in 2019, is expected to improve services across the Great Western Main Line network, enhancing passenger experience and providing more seats and better stations.

The overall programme incorporates several significant infrastructure investment projects, including electrification and re-lock and re-control of the Great Western Main Line, the Intercity Express Programme, interfaces with Crossrail West Surface Works, and the major upgrade of Reading Station.

A PBspokesperson told RTM that the contract value could not be disclosed due to “contractual obligations”.

PB is to deliver a full suite of system integration activities drawing on programme management and systems engineering techniques, it said. The joint team will act as a focal point for integrating engineering, operation and franchise solutions to meet the government and industry requirements and assure delivery of expected outputs.

Darren Reed, head of rail UK/Europe for PB, said: “We are delighted to be selected by Network Rail as Industry System Integrator to tackle one of the greatest systems integration challenges on the UK rail network today.

He added that having delivered complex rail systems integration on programmes such as Thameslink and Northern Hub, the company will bring its“unrivalled” experience and “innovative practices” to support the transformation of the Great Western railway.

Last summer Network Rail appointed a joint team of Atkins and PB as Lead Design Organisation (LDO) and System Integrator for the electrification of the GWML. The contract was awarded to prepare the route between London and Cardiff for the introduction of Intercity Express trains in 2017, and was one of the first parts of Network Rail’s £10bn UK-wide electrification programme.

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